22 ghats declared dangerous for Chhath

PATNA: The Patna district administration declared 22 ghats as unfit for Chhath Puja on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has intensified efforts to clean the Ganga ghats under its jurisdiction setting the deadline of November 15 to get the ghats ready.

The PMC's efforts notwithstanding, Patnaites blocked the road from Kurji Mor to Gandhi Maidan on Wednesday morning to protest the corporation's slow pace of making the ghats fit for Chhath.

Declaring 22 ghats from Patna City to Danapur as dangerous, DM Sanjay Kumar Singh said no devotee will be allowed to enter the dangerous ones during Chhath. He added, "The quality of water and the amount of slush at the ghats that may trap an unwary visitor were important criteria for declaring them dangerous." The proximity of sewage outlet to a ghat was also taken into account by the inspecting teams comprising the district administration and PMC officials.

Meanwhile, PMC sources said the collection of solid waste has increased by 300 tonnes daily since the conclusion of Dussehra. "Post-Diwali the quantity of waste rises further due to accumulation of crackers' waste and empty boxes. But this year, the collection jumped compared to previous years," said a senior PMC official.